And he returned back from him
To his father's house, and took his leave, and then came back into the field, perhaps with others accompanying him:
and took a yoke of oxen and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the
instruments of the oxen:
their yokes, and the plough, with an addition of other things sufficient to boil them:
and gave unto the people, and they did eat;
the ploughmen and others that came together on this occasion; he made a feast for them, to express his joy at being called to such service he was:
then he arose and went after Elijah;
left his worldly employment, the riches he was heir to, his parents, and his friends, and followed the prophet:
and ministered unto him;
became his servant, whereby he attained to great knowledge and understanding of divine things, and was trained up to the prophetic office, which he was invested with upon the removal of Elijah; see ( Matthew 8:21 Matthew 8:22 ) ( 19:27 ) .